When The Whisperers showed up in season 9 of The Walking Dead, it was only a matter of time until the Fair happened. Since he ended up with his head on a pike in that comic book storyline, Khary Payton's King Ezekiel seemed like a very likely candidate for death.
However, when that episode aired, King Ezekiel remained alive, although his and Carol's adopted son Henry tragically died instead. When asked about Ezekiel escaping death's door at the Fair, Payton said he was as shocked as fans.
“I was scared out of my mind. I had my bags packed, man, I was ready to go,” Payton told fans at the Walker Stalker Con Chicago, via ComicBook.
There were a few major changes when it comes to the heads on pikes, with Tara replacing Rosita, who died while pregnant in the comics, and Enid shockingly joining Henry. Ezekiel lived to fight another day. In the comic books, Ezekiel had dated Michonne and his death helped drive her further away from the communities. With Carol as Ezekiel's new wife on the television show, the dynamic has completely changed.
"I was like, ‘I’m gone, it’s okay, I know, no problem, I’ll be fine, these dreadlocks blowing in the breeze,’" Payton said. "But apparently the dreadlocks were too heavy to actually blow in the breeze, and so that’s why they’re like, ‘We’re gonna kill him a different way!’”
Those last words are ominous and it sounds like Ezekiel won't be long for the world of The Walking Dead. While he might still doll out words of wisdom for a little bit longer, his days could very well be numbered.
The Walking Dead stars Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Nadia Hilker, Dan Fogler, Angel Theory, Lauren Ridloff and Eleanor Matsuura. The series returns for its 10th season on AMC in October.